{"id":9610,"date":"2022-06-20T17:27:15","date_gmt":"2022-06-20T16:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snomads.co.uk\/?p=9610"},"modified":"2025-11-13T14:43:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T14:43:44","slug":"cat-skiing-in-europe-the-definitive-guide-to-freeriding-in-north-macedonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snomads.co.uk\/ru\/cat-skiing-in-europe-the-definitive-guide-to-freeriding-in-north-macedonia\/","title":{"rendered":"\u041e\u0442\u0432\u0430\u0436\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043f\u0438\u043e\u043d\u0435\u0440\u044b \u043a\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f \u043d\u0430 \u043a\u043e\u0448\u0430\u0447\u044c\u0438\u0445 \u043b\u044b\u0436\u0430\u0445 \u0432 \u0415\u0432\u0440\u043e\u043f\u0435: \u041e\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0440\u0443\u043a\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e \u043f\u043e \u0444\u0440\u0438\u0440\u0430\u0439\u0434\u0443 \u0432 \u0421\u0435\u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u041c\u0430\u043a\u0435\u0434\u043e\u043d\u0438\u0438"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The brave pioneers of Free Riding in Europe: \nThe Definitive Guide to Cat Skiing in North Macedonia<\/span><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What do Cat Skiing, Pablo Escobar, and Tony Montana have in common? They all guarantee you vast amounts of white powder! However, Cat Skiing has the lowest likelihood of getting you shot. Yet, it will take you to the last snowy frontiers of the world. You will be able to ski on the edge of civilization and enjoy a real challenge. Far away from busy ski resorts with only the trees and your friends to keep you company. While Cat skiing is very well known in Canada and the US, it is still a novelty in Europe. The operators in North Macedonia can rightly boast as one of the pioneers of cat skiing in Europe. Keep reading to learn more about them.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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IN THIS ARTICLE:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCat Skiing 101\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t- Origins
\n- Pros & Cons of Cat vs. Heli vs. Piste skiing
\n- Preparing for your first cat skiing holiday\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCat Skiing in
North Macedonia\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t- Safety
\n- Snow Conditions
\n- Logistics\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNorth Macedonia
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t- Geography
\n- History
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDiscovering Macedonia and the Balkans\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tRecent Posts<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tZakopane Winter Hiking Guide: Best Trails & Treks\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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Check out the best half of full-day Zakopane winter hiking trails for groups. Solo or with a guided group…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBansko Ski Resort: Definitive Ski Holiday Guide [2026]\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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What you should know before a ski holiday in Bansko – Bulgaria\u2019s ski capital.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cat skiing 101<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What is cat skiing?<\/span><\/strong>\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cat skiing is a form of freeriding that uses a massive snowcat machine to drop you off in the middle of nowhere. From there it’s up to your guided group to choose your way back to civilization. You get to ride through untouched powder and enjoy pristine nature. Once you\u2019re safely back you get to do it all again! No lift queues or crowds on the piste.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Origins of<\/span><\/strong> cat skiing\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Back in 1965 Alan Drury first got the idea of cat skiing. He was working in a ski resort in Aspen, Colorado. The ski mountain area was still under construction and the lifts weren\u2019t running yet. Instead, snowcats were used to transport skiers up the slopes. The idea slowly grew in his mind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About ten years later Alan launched his Selkirk Wilderness Skiing. He would use snowcat machines to take groups of skiers to the wilderness of British Columbia. His efforts were a roaring success. Nowadays, there are more than 17 companies offering the same service in British Columbia. Cat Skiing\/snowboarding has become the best way to enjoy backcountry skiing in Canada and the US. However, Europe has yet to catch up.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Piste vs. Heli vs. Cat skiing<\/span>\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Piste Skiing<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Piste skiing is by far the most popular method of the three. Skiing has become an iconic winter recreational activity. Ski resorts have dotted the landscape of the Alps ever since the beginning of the 20th century. The piste is where beginners learn to ski, where intermediates practice, and where professionals compete. Resorts usually have different pistes to accommodate all skill levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, their catch-all purpose has become the pistes\u2019 drawback. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a well-made ski piste. However, the reality of modern ski resorts is one of long lift queues, big traffic jams on the slopes, and frequently poor snow conditions. Moreover, many ski resorts have become overpriced tourist traps with poor customer service. <\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Helicopter Skiing<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Heli-skiing is the opposite of mass piste skiing. It\u2019s deep into the luxury skiing niche. A helicopter will take you up to a remote location in the mountain and you will have to find your way down. On its own, this can offer you a much more meaningful skiing experience than doing the same few pistes over and over again. Every time you can be taken to a different location with a huge variety to choose from.<\/span><\/p>\n

The helicopter ride itself is often a breath-taking experience filled with unforgettable sights. Yet, helicopters rely on good flying conditions. Bad weather days will leave you stranded in your cabin. Moreover, helicopter flights have the largest carbon footprint of the three options. Their steep prices remain the biggest entry barrier for most people. Day rates are easily more than 1000$ per day per person.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cat Skiing<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cat skiing is often dubbed as \u2018poor man\u2019s heli-skiing\u2019. Yet, it offers nearly the same quality of experience for less than half the price! It\u2019s not as dependent on the weather as helicopters are. You can be at the center of the action, right as the powder is falling from the sky. Moreover, snowcats are usually dedicated to a single group for the day. This means you can treat it as your portable supply room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though the snowcats are somewhat dependent on the terrain, they can still cover a lot of vertical elevation. It\u2019s definitely going to take them a while to get to their destination, but that is part of the charm. You can kick back, have a drink and a bite, and enjoy the journey with your company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, there\u2019s an added level of security with the snowcats. The snowcats have a smaller operation area than the helicopters. Yet, that makes their operators learn the landscape much better than their pilot counterparts. This is paramount for avalanche prevention.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Before the fun starts<\/span><\/strong>\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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How skilled
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Every cat skiing holiday carries an element of danger. Therefore it\u2019s not suitable for ski beginners. You should be at least an intermediate skier. This involves consistently turning in off-piste terrain and riding through deep powder. As long as you don\u2019t put yourself or your group in danger, you should be good to go. There will always be a lead and a tail guide to make sure you don\u2019t accidentally go down a super steep slope with high avalanche risks.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Do you need
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Skiing in the backcountry usually involves wider skis and snowboards. Apart from that there is a set of safety equipment which you need with you at all times. Avalanches are the biggest danger when cat skiing. Thus, you will be given a shovel, probe, an ABS avalanche bag, and a transceiver beacon. You will be able to rent everything necessary on location.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Do you need
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Skiing in the backcountry usually involves wider skis and snowboards. Apart from that there is a set of safety equipment which you need with you at all times. Avalanches are the biggest danger when cat skiing. Thus, you will be given a shovel and probe, an ABS avalanche bag, and a transceiver beacon. You will be able to rent everything necessary on location.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What to expect from your
cat skiing holiday? <\/span><\/strong>\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A good ski day starts early. Especially if you\u2019re exploring the backcountry. Sunlight and your physical strength will be the biggest limitations. You can expect to be in the snowcat by 8 am. The day usually lasts until 16:30 when it starts to get dark.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s something magical about getting into this wild beast of a machine. You and your buddies, next to each other. The engine revving and the fresh mountain air pinching your cheeks. You can feel the butterflies in your belly as the snowcat takes you into uncharted territory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the snowcat drops you off you will finally appreciate silence, peace of mind, and nature\u2019s tranquility all around. The fresh snow cracks under your steps, and you hear every breath you take. Now civilization is out of sight and it is up to you and your friends to find your way down. Once you\u2019re down, the snowcat will take you back up to another location. In the meantime, you will be able to enjoy a company-made comprehensive lunch so the fun never stops.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the sun sets, the snowcat will take you back to your hotel. Especially on your first day, you will feel exhausted and cold. You\u2019ll probably be dying for a warm drink and a seat by the sauna and the mineral water pool. In good company, you can finally relax and recollect all the effort and fun moments you had throughout the day. Most likely you won\u2019t be staying up late. The next day already awaits!<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Snowcat skiing with Snomads
in North Macedonia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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North Macedonia is home to the cat skiing pioneers of Europe. A faraway location in a faraway country. Deep into the Shar mountains, one of the last wild European frontiers welcomes adventurers. At 1780m above the sea, the <\/span>Popova Shapka<\/span><\/i> (Priest\u2019s cap) ski resort is excellently situated to accommodate cat skiing enthusiasts. <\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This is precisely where our cat skiing operation is based. We\u2019re surrounded by rolling hills and forests, as well as over 30 peaks that rise above 2500 meters. Our snowcat operations cover more than 15,000 hectares of prime skiing areas. Our operators are seasoned local veterans that know the land like the back of their hands. All in all, we\u2019ve prepared everything you need to stay safe and have an unforgettable cat skiing holiday. <\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Avalanche Safety<\/span>\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As boring as it may sound, safety is our first priority. To ensure your safety we comply with all the official Canadian guidelines regarding avalanche safety. As they are the homeland of cat skiing, we opt to learn from the best. Moreover, there will be at least two seasoned guides per group.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All of our guides have over 6 years of experience on the location. They are veteran free-riders and will help you choose the best places depending on your group\u2019s skill. Naturally, they will help you avoid high-risk areas for avalanches. On the evening of your arrival, you will attend a safety presentation. You will be taught how to use the safety equipment and what conditions to expect on the ride. <\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Snow Conditions around
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Macedonia boasts some unique skiing conditions. The geographical latitude of Popova Shapka is roughly that of Rome, yet there is consistent snow from January to April. Its proximity to the subtropical Mediterranean climate makes for some freaky weather and skiing conditions!<\/span><\/p>\n

You can expect to find anything from concrete to untouched powder! There’s crusty snow, dusty snow, dust on crust, packed snow, frosty snow, sticky snow, wet snow, wet packed snow, and the list goes on. There are days with blizzards, blowing snow squalls, and flurries. Sometimes there are bluebird days and you can see all the way to the horizon. Other times there is a whiteout and you can barely see your nose!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Weather in Macedonia can be unpredictable, but more often than not that just adds to the fun. When you’ve arrived on location, our guides will inform you what the snow conditions on the ground are and give you riding tips accordingly.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Snomads Catski Rental Equipment <\/span>\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sometimes trying to bring your skis or snowboard along for your Winter adventure can be a real drag. If you don\u2019t want to fly with your own equipment then we have the perfect solution! We have some great freeride skis and snowboards freely available for hire during your stay from only 15 euro a day. Wide skis and powderboards which are perfect for the kind of riding you\u2019ll encounter in the Shar mountain plateau.<\/p>\n

Elan skis work closely with our Cat ski operation here in Macedonia, some of their new models even get a test ride on our mountain before sale. If you’re lucky you might even be able to try out the new\u00a0Elan Ripstick<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Catski and Sustainabnility <\/span>\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A lot of people might roll their eyes when they see skiing and sustainability in one sentence but bear with us! The snowcat machine is big, noisy, and consumes an average of 200 liters of diesel per day! Yet, it carries 13 skiers, two guides, and a driver. Compare that to heli-skiing, where a helicopter must make at least two rounds up and down the mountain to get the same number of people. Every minute of air time for the heli amounts to 1.2 liters of fuel. In other words, the heli will burn more fuel than the snowcat in just three hours of operational time. Compare the snowcat to the busy piste lifts and the picture doesn’t get much better. An average ski lift will burn over 240 liters of fuel in just one hour, and they never stop during a busy day.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Accommodation<\/span>\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We offer a full board accommodation with breakfast, mountain lunch, and dinner included in the price. You will be staying in the cozy Scardus 4-star hotel, right in the middle of Popova Shapka. The hotel boasts a variety of amenities for weary skiers. There is a spa center with two saunas, a swimming pool, and even an on-site masseuse. There is a gym and table tennis to keep you active.<\/span><\/p>\n

Naturally, you can rely on a well-stocked bar, as well as an excellent restaurant, and a reliable laundry service. There is also fast WiFi everywhere in the hotel, free of charge. You can stay connected with the rest of the world with ease. Even more, you get to stay inspired by all the great views the hotel terrace reveals.<\/span><\/p>\n

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